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High Point proclaimed for Arbor Day; city receives Tree City USA recognition and expands tree-planting efforts
Summary
The City of High Point marked Arbor Day with a proclamation and an Urban Forestry update: staff said the city met Tree City USA program requirements, completed a neighborhood planting and will hold a tree giveaway in March.
High Point marked Arbor Day and city planners announced the city’s Tree City USA recognition and recent urban forestry work, including neighborhood plantings and an upcoming tree giveaway.
Amy McBride, senior planner with the Planning & Development Department, told council High Point earned its Tree City USA designation by meeting the program’s four standards: having a tree board, a public tree ordinance, a community forestry program with annual per-capita expenditures of at least $2, and an Arbor Day observance. “This recognition signifies that our community values the important and practical role trees play,” McBride said.
McBride described several recent and planned efforts: a neighborhood planting in Emery Wood last December that installed 25 canopy and ornamental trees; an ongoing “plant to remember” memorial tree program that has accepted donated trees since 2010 (36 donations noted in the presentation); a successful inaugural tree giveaway last year and a second giveaway scheduled for Saturday, March 22. The urban forestry committee is working with local groups including Keep High Point Beautiful and High Point University on planting projects and follows a practice of planting at least one new tree on city property for every city-owned tree removed.
Why it matters: urban forestry programs can improve air and water quality, reduce stormwater runoff and energy costs, and increase neighborhood amenity value. The city’s stated per-capita expenditure requirement and the committee’s planting commitments are elements of the Tree City USA standard.
Next steps: staff will continue neighborhood planting selection and outreach for the March tree giveaway; the council recognized the proclamation and thanked volunteers and partners for the work.
